{"id":253097,"date":"2025-11-01T08:00:13","date_gmt":"2025-11-01T12:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=253097"},"modified":"2025-11-29T10:58:46","modified_gmt":"2025-11-29T15:58:46","slug":"nfl-power-rankings-top-20-defenses-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/11\/01\/nfl-power-rankings-top-20-defenses-2\/","title":{"rendered":"NFL Power Rankings: Top 20 Defenses"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s that time of the week when we look at which defenses stepped up and which others fell after week 8 in the NFL. That means we could have some new teams in our defensive power rankings, so let’s get to Week 8’s top defenses in the NFL. Have a great day, everyone, and may the tackles be with you.<\/p>\n

Top 20 NFL Defense Power Rankings<\/h2>\n

1. Houston Texans – 266.9 Total Yards Against<\/h3>\n

Since their bye, the Houston Texans<\/a> have terrorized offenses by recording four sacks, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and a touchdown. That success has now earned them the number one spot after week 8.<\/p>\n

2. Atlanta Falcons – 275.6 Total Yards Against<\/h3>\n

After another disturbing upset against the Dolphins<\/a> at home, the Atlanta Falcons now head to New England to face the Patriots<\/a>. This game could be a slobberknocker, and both defenses could dominate the day.<\/p>\n

3. Cleveland Browns – 276.9 Total Yards Against<\/h3>\n

After recording six sacks and two turnovers against the Patriots, the Cleveland Browns<\/a> have earned a bye. They’ll be headed to New York to have the Jets<\/a> in week 10 when they sit back up again.<\/p>\n

4. Kansas City Chiefs – 277.8 Total Yards Against<\/h3>\n

I’m not surprised to see the Kansas City Chiefs<\/a> creep their way up the rankings, especially how they’ve played as of late. They’ll be in Buffalo<\/a> this week, which is going to be a pivotal game for seeding once the playoffs roll around.<\/p>\n

5. Denver Broncos – 281.4 Total Yards Against<\/h3>\n

The Denver Broncos<\/a> defense had been great all year and showed that in Week 8 by dominating the Cowboys<\/a>. Unfortunately, they lost the reigning defensive MVP, Patrick Surtain, for multiple weeks.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Sunday
Photo Credit: Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

6. Green Bay Packers – 289.4 Total Yards Against<\/h3>\n

When you have nine sacks in two weeks, you tend to move up on the defensive power rankings, and that’s what the Green Bay Packers<\/a> have done. This week they got some home cooking as they get the Panthers<\/a> in Lambeau Field.<\/p>\n

7. Los Angeles Chargers – 296.9 Total Yards Against<\/h3>\n

After a bad game against the Colts<\/a>, the Los Angeles Chargers<\/a> bounced back strong by sacking Carson Wentz five times and putting him off l on the shelf for the year. This week is easy mode for them as they face the Titans<\/a> in Tennessee.<\/p>\n

8. Detroit Lions – 300.0 Total Yards Against<\/h3>\n

The Lions<\/a> showed their stuff by shutting down the Buccaneers<\/a>, which isn’t an easy task. They have the Vikings<\/a> next up after having the week off, which should be another entertaining NFC North game.<\/p>\n

9. New England Patriots – 300.4 Total Yards Against<\/h3>\n

Coming off a strong game against the Browns, the Patriots have the recently punked Falcons<\/a> coming to town this week. Even though the Falcons have Bijan Robinson, I feel the Patriots can hold them down, giving them a chance to win this week.<\/p>\n

10. Seattle Seahawks – 305.9 Total Yards Against<\/h3>\n

Fresh off a bye, the Seahawks<\/a> are headed across the nation to face the Commanders<\/a> in Washington this week. Before their bye, the Seahawks only gave up 25 points while recording 10 sacks in their last two games.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"
Photo Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

11. Carolina Panthers – 310.0 Total Yards Against<\/h3>\n

The Panthers got steamrolled by the Bills last week, dropping them in the standings. This week, they travel to Green Bay to face the Packers, and they should be getting Bryce Young back, which gives them a better chance to be competitive.<\/p>\n

12. Buffalo Bills – 312.1 Total Yards Against<\/h3>\n

After waxing the Panthers, the Bills have a huge game this week against the Chiefs. After recording seven sacks, two fumble recoveries, and an interception, they’ll have to stay focused because they won’t be able to do that against Patrick Mahomes.<\/p>\n

13. Los Angeles Rams – 314.1 Total Yards Against<\/h3>\n

The Rams<\/a> are back after a bye week, and they’re getting an early Christmas present wrapped in the form of the Saints<\/a>. Hymns aside, I don’t think anyone on the Saints will be singing on their way back to New Orleans once the Rams sack their dreams.<\/p>\n

14. Minnesota Vikings – 318.4 Total Yards Against<\/h3>\n

The Vikings defense has been consistent in the sack department this year, but has recently been giving up a lot of points. In their past two games, the Vikings defense has given up 59 points, which is way too much for a solid defense like this.<\/p>\n

15. New Orleans Saints – 320.3 Total Yards Against<\/h3>\n

Even though the Saints won’t get a warm welcome in Los Angeles when they visit the Rams, you can’t count out the defense. Sitting near the middle of the pack with no help on offense, the Saints still held the Buccaneers to 17 points while sacking Baker Mayfield the times.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"
Photo Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 321.4 Total Yards Against<\/h3>\n

Speaking of the Buccaneers, they simply annihilated the Saints, leading to the benching of Spencer Rattler. However, in the past three games, the Saints have recorded 15 sacks, which does make me worried for Matt Stafford this week.<\/p>\n

17. Las Vegas Raiders – 328.6 Total Yards Against<\/h3>\n

The Raiders<\/a> defense has been the only thing that has kept them together, even after I thought they could have been one of the worst defenses this year. However, I was somewhat right since they still gave up a lot of points and looked helpless last week when the Chiefs scored 31 points on them.<\/p>\n

18. New York Jets – 335.4 Total Yards Against<\/h3>\n

The Jets had a miraculous comeback last week against the Bengals<\/a>, who scored 38 points against them last week. That’s more than their previous two games, in which they only gave up 26 points.<\/p>\n

19. Arizona Cardinals – 335.7 Total Yards Against<\/h3>\n

The Cardinals are like a pesky fly to this list. They do enough to stay relevant but also enough to hover around at the bottom. This week, they get the Cowboys, who are ready to bring the pain after getting shut down against the Broncos.<\/p>\n

20. Philadelphia Eagles – 336.3 Total Yards Against<\/h3>\n

The Eagles<\/a> are still a great team, and now that they’re getting healthier on defense, they should start rising on this list. After sacking the Giants five times, they’ve earned a much-needed bye. There are also Myles Garrett trade rumors<\/a> that mention the Eagles prominently. That could really shoot them up in these power rankings.<\/p>\n

For more great fantasy football analysis, check out DrRoto.com<\/a>!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s that time of the week when we look at which defenses stepped up and which others fell after week 8 in the NFL. That means we could have some new teams in our defensive power rankings, so let’s get to Week 8’s top defenses in the NFL. Have a great day, everyone, and may […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5637,"featured_media":253102,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[54,33,27,30,15,24,25,14,16,18,34,5,28,6,6431,21,33916,32,29],"tags":[33781,2320],"class_list":["post-253097","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorials","category-cardinals","category-falcons","category-panthers","category-broncos","category-lions","category-packers","category-texans","category-chiefs","category-chargers","category-rams","category-patriots","category-saints","category-jets","category-nfl-teams","category-eagles","category-power-rankings","category-seahawks","category-buccaneers","tag-nfl-power-rankings","tag-nfl-schedule"],"modified_by":"Michael Kovacs, ADMIN","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/253097","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5637"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=253097"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/253097\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":253107,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/253097\/revisions\/253107"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/253102"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=253097"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=253097"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=253097"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}